Hiring a van for a vacation or even to move furniture is always a smart idea and can save you a lot of time and hassle. When it comes to holiday trips, hiring a van is one effective way of saving money that you would otherwise spend on taxis and it saves you the hassle of having to deal with nightmarish public transport. However, there are a few things I always keep in mind when searching for a van hire near me:

Using a credit card to hire a van is a good idea

Places such as London tend to have better quality offers and work with the likes of CitiRental van hire companies to bring in vans that are in optimum condition. If you are thinking of van hire London then you might want to use your credit card to make payments. The reason behind this is that many good companies run credit checks to ensure that their customers can handle all payments in due time. At the end of the day, no one wants to lease out their vans to an unreliable customer. Using a credit card instead of the debit card proves to the company that you already have good credit. Take note, however, that prepaid credit cards are likely to be rejected by most van hire companies.

Use as little drivers as possible

It is important to always keep in mind that this is not your personal van and so keeping it in the best shape possible is tantamount. To avoid unnecessary damage, it is probably best to ensure that only a few trusted drivers operate the van. Many companies also tend to charge extra if more than two drivers are used so again, it’s best to keep the number of drivers to the bare minimum.

Insurance is very important

Many drivers will consider ditching insurance given how expensive it can be but, it is best to always travel with a van that is fully covered in the event that you are involved in an accident or the vehicle is stolen while in your possession. For cheaper options, you can try insurance policies with your local credit company or check if your personal insurance policy covers hired automobiles.

Consider buying extras instead of getting them from the hiring company

From using your phone’s GPS system to bringing your own radio, there are some extra additions that can turn an expensive hire into a more affordable one. While many companies will have built in features, you can always opt out and find a simple van that you can customise personally. Just remember to check the company’s terms and agreements before adding your own extra features.

There are plenty of other things to consider when hiring a fan such as return policies and hidden fees. At the end of the day, it is important to plan well in advance before hiring a van be it for short term vacations or for long term use.